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Biometric Identification Vs. Biometric Authentication: Which Do You Need?

Tram Nguyen
March 28, 2019

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Once upon a time, only spies used this technology to enter their lairs. Now, it’s used to enter your smartphone: biometric authentication.

Companies applying high-end security to their business use this security daily. If you want something protected, biometrics is an excellent choice.

But you have to know what you’re getting into. Many companies interested in upping security will ultimately come to a crossroads: biometric authentication or biometric identification?

Is there even a difference? And which is right for your company?

You bet there’s a difference, and we know just what you need. Read on to find out.

Types of Security Measures

Security processes contain three basic types of authentication factors. These factors give individuals the go-ahead to continue. The first type is ownership.

Security measures based on the ownership factor rely on physical objects. Those objects identify individuals. The access card used to let guests into their hotel room, for instance, relies on this feature.

Of course, one major issue with such a process is if employees or individuals lose the object.

The second type is the knowledge factor. This requires individuals to provide answers or information that proves their identification. Banking apps and even video games use the ownership factor.

Unfortunately, if hackers or others obtain this knowledge, they have access to valuable data or commodities.

That’s why biometrics uses the third factor. The inherence factor requires characteristics specific to that person, such as fingerprints, facial recognition or DNA.

This is the hardest security to bypass. Because of its effectiveness, 90% of businesses will utilize these technologies by 2020.

What Is Biometric Authentication?

Biometric authentication seeks to verify a person is who he or she is supposed to be.

A computer scans for inherence factors, such as a unique iris pattern, then compares the characteristics to a template saved in a database. This template has the inherent characteristics necessary for the person to be identified correctly and allowed into the system.

Is It Right for Me

Biometric authentication is a useful tool for almost all businesses. This is because companies store sensitive information about their clients and customers. Using biometrics to access this information discourages cyber attacks and leaks.

However, these technologies are also useful for:

  • Valuable items and artifacts
  • Banking information
  • Cybersecurity
  • Recording employee activity and attendance
  • Access to rooms
  • Tax and employee information

What Is Biometric Identification?

Unlike biometric authentication, biometric identification’s goal is to discover someone’s identity—not to ensure the person matches an okayed template in the system.

This technology captures biometric information from a person and cross-references it against many other people in its system. By doing this, the system figures out who that someone is.

Is It Right for Me?

Biometric identification is useful for large organizations who routinely attempt to discover individuals’ identities. Government agencies, law enforcement, healthcare, some consumer-based businesses and more use these technologies.

Additionally, companies should consider that these technologies require large databases to compare characteristics.

Secure Your Company

Now that you’ve tackled biometric authentication and biometric identification, it’s time to put your knowledge to work.

Give your company the security it needs with the best technology on the market. At over 2 million secured authorizations, Acceptto’s here to help you fortify your company.

Try a free demo today. Not only will you feel like a hip, Hollywood spy, but you’ll also have the best security available.

Let’s secure your life.

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